Are high cholesterol and egg intake in the diet associated with heart disease?

The aim of this study was to investigate the association between dietary cholesterol and egg intake with heart disease and death. The main finding of the study was that higher intake of cholesterol or eggs was associated with a higher risk of heart disease and death.

Cholesterol is a nutrient in the human diet. Eggs have a high amount of cholesterol. There is 186mg of cholesterol in one large (50g) egg. The association between cholesterol and cardiovascular (CV) disease has been long debated. CV disease included heart attack, strokes, heart failure, death due to heart disease. Whether or not high intake of cholesterol or eggs in the diet increases the risk of CV disease is still under debate.

This study included 29,615 patients. The average follow-up time was 17.5 years. Patients' diet was evaluated through questionnaires.

For each additional 300mg of cholesterol consumed per day, patients had a significantly increased risk (by 17%) of CV disease. They also had an 18% increased risk of death for any cause. Each additional half an egg consumed per day was significantly associated with a 6% increased risk of CV disease and 8% risk of death from any cause.

The authors concluded that higher amounts of cholesterol or egg consumption were associated with a higher risk of CV disease and death from all causes. This was in a dose-dependent manner (i.e. the more cholesterol/eggs consumed, the higher the risk).

This study was based on self-reported patient data. This type of research is not always reliable.